Free Spirit

48” wide 11’ long 30” tall made from two book matched sets from one Large log aka the book match on either end of top is the same book match from next mating book matchwhich makes the base = meaning the grain flows up from the ground across top and back to the ground .

I am very proud to say I work out of “fire wood” still in 20 ’ log lengths if I am lucky! this a great example there are 44 “dovetail keys all structural top are all Tulip wood , rest are spalted oak/Walnut lignum Vita and Cherry &Figured eastern maple.

All work was done by hand and finished with hand rubber urethane Satin sheen. 186 hours of practical hands on hours evolved -same as all my work the past 6 years I never put pencil to paper once.

@ mds2 , not sure about butterflies, but as it says up top there are 44 “Dovetail Keys” 15 tulip wood ones on top , 20 in under side of top, and 9 in one side of 46” wide base.

Funny Chris Wong (Flair Wood Works) had a good line ” nice sliding butterflies you used on that carcass” ;) because I get in decisions over people calling this ancient joinery method “bow ties” or “butter flies” To me the name is Dovetail key,because they are just that !and much more function then form. in my work that is certain.

Thank you very much one of my favorite pieces of the last year.

@ Chuck yes went in a house younger |Doctor and his wife and 3 kids that had just moved to Canada from South Africa

Thank you all for the kind words! I like the” bowties”- “butter flies” , dovetail key thingys what ever one wishes to call them? too , I also believe I have a pretty good knack at laying them out in a functional and eye blessing way after years of practice, and yes they are all cut an chiseled out by hand

Jamie , I buy whole trees , local trees and over sized figured logs the big mills do not want ,my main sawyer and I have this joke of how we try to get the trees before the Fire wood guys do.Then we get the “wood snobs ” of all kinds who come to buy wood from Andys over 300 000 BF stock ,who tell us what I use is firewood or not even good enough for firewood ;)

Fine buy me I think it gives me some real One off pieces , soul is certainly in it much more then a job , can not wait until it is my hobby!